‘Still no funding for SK, barangay polls’

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to receive funding of some P1.9 billion for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled in May next year, a ranking official of the poll body said yesterday.

Comelec Executive Director Mamasapunod Aguam said they have no choice but to seek additional appropriation since local government units (LGUs) do not have the budget to fund elections in their respective districts.

Earlier, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay wrote the Comelec to express concern about his local government’s inability to fund two electoral exercises in one month.

Voters will be choosing SK members on May 6, 2002 and will vote for barangay officials one week later.

Aguam said they need to ask Congress and the Department of Budget and Management for some P1.2 billion for the SK elections and P1.8 billion for the barangay polls.

Despite the lack of funding and the possibility of a poll postponement, the Comelec continues to prepare for the two electoral exercises, Aguam said.

"We will have to wait for the final decision of Congress if the elections will be postponed for lack of funds," he said. "We hope to have a decision before February since we need adequate time to have election materials printed."

The Comelec has urged Congress to defer the SK and barangay polls "due to lack of funding and other reasons."

Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo also said he prefers the SK and barangay elections be held on the same day to save money, but this needs an act of Congress.

Benipayo said the poll body’s P1.9 billion for its modernization program should be not be used for the SK and barangay elections next year.

Most of the budget for the SK and barangay elections would be used to pay the P900 salary of each of the 700,000 board of election inspectors, he added.